Newport railway station usage falls

PASSENGER figures for Newport’s city centre railway station have fallen on the year before, according to recent figures.

Newport railway station scored a decline in the numbers of people using it despite increases at Severn Tunnel Junction and several Ebbw Valley line stations.

According to figures from the Office of Rail Regulation the number of entries and exits from Newport fell by 1.1 per cent in 2012/13 from the year before.

The station clocked 2,250,258 entries and exits, 25,104 less than in 2011/12. At Severn Tunnel Junction the number of people using the station increased by 9.1 per cent to 205,814 in 2012/13.

The number of people using Ebbw Vale Parkway rose by 3.6 per cent to 254,956. Rogerstone railway station’s figures rose by 2.85 per cent to 101,366, while Newbridge saw 2.06 per cent more passengers with 133,672 entries and exits recorded.

However the number of people using Risca’s train station fell by 3.4 per cent to 100,236, while Crosskeys stayed broadly the same at 117,012.

Alan Edwards, president of Newport Chamber of Trade, speculated the falling usage at Newport’s main station could be down to the state of the city centre.

“We will know the truth of that in two years time when the development is done,” he said.

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A spokeswoman for Arriva Trains Wales, which operates Newport Station, said statistics showed overall satisfaction with the transport hub increased since the completion of the new station.

She said: “We are not aware of any significant reason why footfall at Newport Station has declined.”

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Comments (8)

Arriva Trains Wales and Network Rail are the ones to blame for Newport Train Station being in the state it is in today. The new station should never have been built. The WHOLE LAYOUT is wrong. This is definitely a design fault, which should have been picked up at the design stage. The original station building was far better and in a better position. They could have just improved the original building and extended the lift infrastructure to platform 4. The lifts in the original station were a lot bigger than the lifts in the new building. The lifts in the new building are too small, and there are three times as many steps to go up and down in the new building. As a result of this, it takes longer to get from one platform to another. When there is a platform alteration, you try to rush over to the new platform, and by the time you have reached the new platform, you have missed your train. This is because there are far too many steps. It would have been better to have straight steps instead of circular steps. All this because some person decided to make the station into some stupid eye design. You need to be up in a helicopter to see the eye design layout. People are more interested in what a place looks like from the ground, and practicality of course, both of which Arriva Trains Wales and Network Rail failed on with this project. Arriva Trains Wales and Network Rail should demolish the station and start again. Move the station back to the original building. It was closer to the shops there.

Arriva Trains Wales and Network Rail are the ones to blame for Newport Train Station being in the state it is in today. The new station should never have been built. The WHOLE LAYOUT is wrong. This is definitely a design fault, which should have been picked up at the design stage.
The original station building was far better and in a better position. They could have just improved the original building and extended the lift infrastructure to platform 4. The lifts in the original station were a lot bigger than the lifts in the new building. The lifts in the new building are too small, and there are three times as many steps to go up and down in the new building. As a result of this, it takes longer to get from one platform to another. When there is a platform alteration, you try to rush over to the new platform, and by the time you have reached the new platform, you have missed your train. This is because there are far too many steps. It would have been better to have straight steps instead of circular steps.
All this because some person decided to make the station into some stupid eye design. You need to be up in a helicopter to see the eye design layout. People are more interested in what a place looks like from the ground, and practicality of course, both of which Arriva Trains Wales and Network Rail failed on with this project.
Arriva Trains Wales and Network Rail should demolish the station and start again. Move the station back to the original building. It was closer to the shops there.MERoden

Arriva Trains Wales and Network Rail are the ones to blame for Newport Train Station being in the state it is in today. The new station should never have been built. The WHOLE LAYOUT is wrong. This is definitely a design fault, which should have been picked up at the design stage. The original station building was far better and in a better position. They could have just improved the original building and extended the lift infrastructure to platform 4. The lifts in the original station were a lot bigger than the lifts in the new building. The lifts in the new building are too small, and there are three times as many steps to go up and down in the new building. As a result of this, it takes longer to get from one platform to another. When there is a platform alteration, you try to rush over to the new platform, and by the time you have reached the new platform, you have missed your train. This is because there are far too many steps. It would have been better to have straight steps instead of circular steps. All this because some person decided to make the station into some stupid eye design. You need to be up in a helicopter to see the eye design layout. People are more interested in what a place looks like from the ground, and practicality of course, both of which Arriva Trains Wales and Network Rail failed on with this project. Arriva Trains Wales and Network Rail should demolish the station and start again. Move the station back to the original building. It was closer to the shops there.

Score: 17

Bobevans says...3:39pm Tue 11 Mar 14

The station is a mess. It is poorly located and the facilities are totally inadequate. Half the platforms are now in the open and all the facilities remote from the so called booking hall. Only an idiot would have designed it as it is There was nothing wrong with the previous booking hall in fact it was vastly better than we have now

The station is a mess. It is poorly located and the facilities are totally inadequate. Half the platforms are now in the open and all the facilities remote from the so called booking hall. Only an idiot would have designed it as it is
There was nothing wrong with the previous booking hall in fact it was vastly better than we have nowBobevans

The station is a mess. It is poorly located and the facilities are totally inadequate. Half the platforms are now in the open and all the facilities remote from the so called booking hall. Only an idiot would have designed it as it is There was nothing wrong with the previous booking hall in fact it was vastly better than we have now

Score: 21

Severn40 says...4:36pm Tue 11 Mar 14

I concur with the comments made here. Little assessment was made at the design stage of how people actually use the station: (1) From the main entrance, cars picking up and dropping off passengers have to cross a bus lane to access the parking area. (2) They removed the travel centre which means those wanting to travel immediately may have to wait behind someone buying group tickets for travel in six weeks time. (3) They reduced the number of ticket barriers which results in queuing (4) The number of flight of steps was increased meaning it takes you longer to get to the platforms (5) The lifts are smaller meaning less people can go in them (6) On one of the platforms there is a section without any canopies meaning people will get wet (7) They didn't think through where some of the key facilities should go - so cycle racks are in the wrong place, the original cafe is over 100m further down the platform and they ended up putting up a portacabin for the Newsagents. None of this is rocket science. There are thousands of stations around the world. Application of some commonsense and understanding of how people actually use the facilities...

I concur with the comments made here. Little assessment was made at the design stage of how people actually use the station:
(1) From the main entrance, cars picking up and dropping off passengers have to cross a bus lane to access the parking area.
(2) They removed the travel centre which means those wanting to travel immediately may have to wait behind someone buying group tickets for travel in six weeks time.
(3) They reduced the number of ticket barriers which results in queuing
(4) The number of flight of steps was increased meaning it takes you longer to get to the platforms
(5) The lifts are smaller meaning less people can go in them
(6) On one of the platforms there is a section without any canopies meaning people will get wet
(7) They didn't think through where some of the key facilities should go - so cycle racks are in the wrong place, the original cafe is over 100m further down the platform and they ended up putting up a portacabin for the Newsagents.
None of this is rocket science. There are thousands of stations around the world. Application of some commonsense and understanding of how people actually use the facilities...Severn40

I concur with the comments made here. Little assessment was made at the design stage of how people actually use the station: (1) From the main entrance, cars picking up and dropping off passengers have to cross a bus lane to access the parking area. (2) They removed the travel centre which means those wanting to travel immediately may have to wait behind someone buying group tickets for travel in six weeks time. (3) They reduced the number of ticket barriers which results in queuing (4) The number of flight of steps was increased meaning it takes you longer to get to the platforms (5) The lifts are smaller meaning less people can go in them (6) On one of the platforms there is a section without any canopies meaning people will get wet (7) They didn't think through where some of the key facilities should go - so cycle racks are in the wrong place, the original cafe is over 100m further down the platform and they ended up putting up a portacabin for the Newsagents. None of this is rocket science. There are thousands of stations around the world. Application of some commonsense and understanding of how people actually use the facilities...

......while I agree the design is naff......and as we tax payers then paid for the old station building to be refurbished for the Newport council all in one advice centre....which could have been done by NR......but the hike in rail fares.....the reduced services at the passport offices and other businesses closing.....are the most likely to be the causes of the decline.....I doubt the numbers that came to Newport to shop have been affected..... as Cardiff or Bristol are more likely to attract those who travel by train....and the new development is unlikely to change their habit......dream on those who think that the changes in Newport will make any difference in the foreseeable future........ NBC should have gone for a niche market of unique shops and not tried to mirror/compete with the big boys......trouble is since we were made a city.....we have councillors with city ideas.....and Newport will never be a true city.....

......while I agree the design is naff......and as we tax payers then paid for the old station building to be refurbished for the Newport council all in one advice centre....which could have been done by NR......but the hike in rail fares.....the reduced services at the passport offices and other businesses closing.....are the most likely to be the causes of the decline.....I doubt the numbers that came to Newport to shop have been affected..... as Cardiff or Bristol are more likely to attract those who travel by train....and the new development is unlikely to change their habit......dream on those who think that the changes in Newport will make any difference in the foreseeable future........
NBC should have gone for a niche market of unique shops and not tried to mirror/compete with the big boys......trouble is since we were made a city.....we have councillors with city ideas.....and Newport will never be a true city.....Dave on his Soapbox

......while I agree the design is naff......and as we tax payers then paid for the old station building to be refurbished for the Newport council all in one advice centre....which could have been done by NR......but the hike in rail fares.....the reduced services at the passport offices and other businesses closing.....are the most likely to be the causes of the decline.....I doubt the numbers that came to Newport to shop have been affected..... as Cardiff or Bristol are more likely to attract those who travel by train....and the new development is unlikely to change their habit......dream on those who think that the changes in Newport will make any difference in the foreseeable future........ NBC should have gone for a niche market of unique shops and not tried to mirror/compete with the big boys......trouble is since we were made a city.....we have councillors with city ideas.....and Newport will never be a true city.....

Score: 0

hiwsnpt says...7:21pm Tue 11 Mar 14

The station was opened to the usual fanfare, but was poorly designed and in the wrong spot. Ok fair enough. Having said that it took very little time for station to look dirty and shabby. That tells me there is no pride and of course budget. Every day it should look as good as it did on open day and it's looking dirty. The managers/owners clearly don't care or take pride in their patch. On top of that numbers are falling. Of course they are who comes to newport anymore who has a choice. There are no metro links to suburbs like Caerleon so why bother. Other cities and towns offer more are cleaner, safer and care about the environment. Newport is now mainly closed grubby and full of undesirables so why bother and this is reflected throughout including the state of the newish station.

The station was opened to the usual fanfare, but was poorly designed and in the wrong spot. Ok fair enough. Having said that it took very little time for station to look dirty and shabby. That tells me there is no pride and of course budget. Every day it should look as good as it did on open day and it's looking dirty. The managers/owners clearly don't care or take pride in their patch. On top of that numbers are falling. Of course they are who comes to newport anymore who has a choice. There are no metro links to suburbs like Caerleon so why bother. Other cities and towns offer more are cleaner, safer and care about the environment. Newport is now mainly closed grubby and full of undesirables so why bother and this is reflected throughout including the state of the newish station.hiwsnpt

The station was opened to the usual fanfare, but was poorly designed and in the wrong spot. Ok fair enough. Having said that it took very little time for station to look dirty and shabby. That tells me there is no pride and of course budget. Every day it should look as good as it did on open day and it's looking dirty. The managers/owners clearly don't care or take pride in their patch. On top of that numbers are falling. Of course they are who comes to newport anymore who has a choice. There are no metro links to suburbs like Caerleon so why bother. Other cities and towns offer more are cleaner, safer and care about the environment. Newport is now mainly closed grubby and full of undesirables so why bother and this is reflected throughout including the state of the newish station.

Score: 3

Dolieboy says...7:47am Wed 12 Mar 14

Bus to Cardiff is cheaper and easier, why go to the helter skelter ?

Bus to Cardiff is cheaper and easier, why go to the helter skelter ?Dolieboy

Bus to Cardiff is cheaper and easier, why go to the helter skelter ?

Score: -2

Gareth says...12:13pm Wed 12 Mar 14

So you are all arguing that people aren't travelling by train from Newport because they don't like the station's design?

So you are all arguing that people aren't travelling by train from Newport because they don't like the station's design?Gareth

So you are all arguing that people aren't travelling by train from Newport because they don't like the station's design?

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